Colorado rocks Liriano, Pirates

Getty Images - Pirates infielder Josh Harrison takes the mound to pitch against Rockies pinch hitter Corey Dickerson in the eighth inning on Friday, Aug. 9, 2013, at Coors Field in Denver. Dickerson flied out to left field to end the inning, as the Rockies defeated the Pirates, 10-1.

AP - Pirates second baseman Neil Walker reacts as he takes a seat in the dugout after the Pirates retired the Rockies in the third inning on Friday, Aug. 9, 2013, at Coors Field in Denver.

Getty Images - The Rockies' Troy Tulowitzki rounds second base on a single by Michael Cuddyer, as Pirates shortstop Jordy Mercer (10) and second baseman Neil Walker (18) follow the play as light rain falls in the first inning on Friday, Aug. 9, 2013, at Coors Field in Denver.

Getty Images - Pirates starting pitcher Francisco Liriano pauses between batters as he gave up four runs to the Rockies in the first inning Friday, Aug. 9, 2013, at Coors Field in Denver.

Getty Images - Pirates pitching coach Ray Searage (54) goes to the mound to talk to starting pitcher Francisco Liriano (47) as Russell Martin (55) and Gaby Sanchez (14) look on against the Rockies in the first inning Friday, Aug. 9, 2013, at Coors Field in Denver.

Getty Images - Pirates manager Clint Hurdle puts infielder Josh Harrison into the game to pitch against Rockies pinch hitter Corey Dickerson in the eighth inning on Friday, Aug. 9, 2013, at Coors Field in Denver.

Getty Images - The Rockies' DJ LeMahieu slides safely into second with a stolen base as Pirates second baseman Neil Walker takes the late throw in the first inning on Friday, Aug. 9, 2013, at Coors Field in Denver.

Getty Images - Pirates manager Clint Hurdle motions to the bullpen as he heads to the mound to insert Vin Mazzaro to relieve starting pitcher Francisco Liriano against the Rockies in the third inning on Friday, Aug. 9, 2013, at Coors Field in Denver.

AP - Pirates starting pitcher Francisco Liriano (left) confers with first baseman Gaby Sanchez and others after Liriano gave up an RBI single to the Rockies' Todd Helton in the first inning on Friday, Aug. 9, 2013, in Denver.

Getty Images - Pirates starting pitcher Francisco Liriano heads for the dugout after being removed from the game by manager Clint Hurdle against the Rockies in the third inning on Friday, Aug. 9, 2013, at Coors Field in Denver.

Getty Images - Pirates second baseman Neil Walker gets a force out on the Rockies' Troy Tulowitzki on a ground ball by Michael Cuddyer in the third inning on Friday, Aug. 9, 2013, at Coors Field in Denver.

ALL - Pirates infielder Josh Harrison pitches in the bottom of the eighth inning on Friday, Aug. 9, 2013, at Coors Field in Denver.

Getty Images - The Pirates' Jordy Mercer watches his sacrifice fly that scored Neil Walker against the Rockies in the second inning on Friday, Aug. 9, 2013, at Coors Field in Denver.

Getty Images - The Pirates' Neil Walker is welcomed back to the dugout by Andrew McCutchen after scoring against the Rockies in the second inning on Friday, Aug. 9, 2013, at Coors Field in Denver.

Pirates/MLB Videos

DENVER — Francisco Liriano will never forget the first time he pitched at Coors Field, but it will not be a cherished memory.

The Colorado Rockies batted around in each of the first two innings Friday and routed the Pirates, 10-1, ending their five-game winning streak.

“Not a good one to remember,” Liriano said.

Liriano (12-5) lasted 2 1⁄3 innings and gave up a career-worst 10 runs — two more runs than he'd allowed in all of July. His ERA shot from 2.02 to 2.83.

By the end of the second inning, Liriano already had yielded 11 hits. That matched his previous career-high for hits allowed in a game, set against Kansas City in September 2008 and again against Boston in May 2009.

After Liriano surrendered his 12th hit — a single by Troy Tulowitzki that snapped his 0-for-13 skid — manager Clint Hurdle mercifully called for reliever Vin Mazzaro.

It was the biggest meltdown by a Pirates starter since A.J. Burnett was tagged for 12 runs in 2 2⁄3 innings May 2, 2012, against the St. Louis Cardinals.

“I was missing my spots a lot,” Liriano said. “My slider wasn't real sharp. I got behind in the count a lot. One of those days.”

In the eighth inning, infielder Josh Harrison became the Pirates' first position player to pitch since Abraham Nunez tossed one scoreless inning against the Chicago Cubs on May 30, 2004. Harrison got pinch-hitter Corey Dickerson to fly out to left field, stranding two runners.

“I didn't exactly volunteer, but it was mentioned to me (in the dugout), and I said I could do it,” Harrison said. “When Clint met me on the mound, he said, ‘I never thought I'd have to have this talk with you on the mound.' I just wanted to get out of there as quick as possible. I wasn't worried about giving up a home run.”

About the only bright spot was that the Pirates scored more runs in Denver than the Cardinals did in Chicago. The Cardinals were 3-0 losers to the Cubs, preserving the Pirates' four-game lead in the NL Central.

Their playoff hopes gone, the Rockies are without slugger Carlos Gonzalez, who went on the disabled list Wednesday with a sprained finger.

The game actually had a promising start for the Pirates, but it quickly turned sour. Starling Marte slapped the first pitch from left-hander Jorge De La Rosa (11-6) into left field for a single. It started a conga line of Pirates batters.

Jordy Mercer singled to left. Andrew McCutchen singled to left. Russell Martin singled to left. Unfortunately, Marte was picked off on a steal attempt while Mercer was batting. So all the Pirates had to show for their four straight hits were three occupied bases, one out — and zero runs.

Liriano got an out to start the bottom of the first, then saw the next six batters reach base. The Rockies took a 4-0 lead. Michael Cuddyer and Todd Helton each bounced an RBI single up the middle, just out of the reach of shortstop Mercer and second baseman Neil Walker. Wilin Rosario stroked a two-run double. In the top of the second, Mercer's sacrifice fly scored Walker to make the score 4-1.

The Rockies sent nine batters to the plate again in the second and scored five runs. Rosario blasted a two-run homer. Cuddyer and Charlie Culberson each had an RBI single. Nolan Arenado ripped a run-scoring double.

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